Electro-surgical device with stable jaw temperature

Abstract

Systems and techniques for a medical apparatus, specifically a handheld electrosurgical device, are described herein. In an example, the device includes an electrosurgical end effector, a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the end effector, a cooler to cool the end effector based on the measured temperature, and a heater to heat the end effector based on the measured temperature. The end effector may be kept within a temperature range or band such as by allowing the end effector to be heated or cooled as desired during a surgical procedure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
 an electrosurgical end effector;   a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the end effector;   a cooler, to cool the end effector based on the measured temperature; and   a heater, to heat the end effector based on the measured temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the temperature sensor, the cooler, and the heater are coupleable to a controller circuit to control the heater to heat the end effector when the measured temperature is below a first temperature limit and to control the cooler to cool the end effector when the measured temperature is above a second temperature limit. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the controller circuit.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the heater is activated automatically when the measured temperature is below the first temperature limit, and wherein the cooler is activated automatically when the measured temperature is above the second temperature limit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the end-effector includes at least one of a jaw or forceps including or coupled to the temperature sensor, the cooler, and the heater. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an irrigation conduit, separate from the cooler.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooler includes at least one of: a cryogenic cooler, an air or other gas flow cooler, a fluid flow cooler, a thermoelectric cooler, an active suction cooler, a fluid flushing cooler, a closed-circuit fluid flow cooler, a treatment site irrigation conduit, or a heat pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater includes a resistive heater. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first range indicator to notify a user of whether the measured temperature is within a range.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first range indicator comprises:
 a first optical indicator;   a first audible indicator; and   a first haptic indicator.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first range indicator comprises:
 a second optical indicator;   a second audible indicator; and   a second haptic indicator.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second range indicator to notify a user of whether the measured temperature is outside a range.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein whether the measured temperature is outside a range includes:
 when the measured temperature is below a first temperature limit.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein whether the measured temperature is outside a range further includes:
 when the measured temperature is above a second temperature limit.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the second range indicator includes one or more of: an optical indicator, a haptic indicator, or an audible indicator. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using an electrosurgical device, the method comprising:
 measuring a temperature of an end effector of the electrosurgical device;   providing both heating and cooling capability to the end effector, controlled at least in part by controller circuitry using the measured temperature; and   providing electrosurgical energy delivery capability to the end effector of the electrosurgical device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising actively heating and cooling the end effector based on the measured temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the end effector includes at least one of a forceps, a spatula, a blade, an electrode, or a needle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 controlling the heating to heat the end effector when a temperature of the end effector is less than a first temperature value;   controlling the cooling to cool the end effector when the temperature of the end effector is greater than a second temperature value; and   alerting a user to notify the user of at least one of the measured temperature or whether the measured temperature is within a range.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 controlling at least one of the heating or cooling based on a positional state of the end effector; and   performing at least one of heating or cooling when jaws of the end effector are in an open position.   
     
     
         21 . An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
 means for measuring a temperature of an end effector of the electrosurgical apparatus;   means for both heating and cooling the end effector, in response to a signal that is based on the measured temperature; and   means for providing electrosurgical energy delivery capability to the end effector.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 control circuitry configured for actively heating and cooling the end effector based on the measured temperature.